- Movie adaptation in 2011 starred Mia Wasikowska and Jamie Bell
- First color adaptation of Jane Eyre. Made for tv movie starring George C. Scott as Mr Rochester and Susannah York as Jane
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Book to Media
Madness
2001: One definition of madness is "mental delusion or the eccentric behavior arising from it." But Emily Dickinson wrote
Much madness is divinest Sense-‐
To a discerning Eye-‐
Novelists and playwrights have often seen madness with a "discerning Eye." Select a novel or play in which a character's apparent madness or irrational behavior plays an important role. Then write a well-‐organized essay in which you explain what this delusion or eccentric behavior consists of and how it might be judged reasonable. Explain the significance of the "madness" to the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.
Emily Dickinson wrote, “Much madness is divinest sense- to the discerning eye.” This means that while a character or action may seem mad or crazy, their sanity is a question of perspective. The most evident example of seemingly madness found in Jane Eyre is Bertha Mason, Rochester’s wife. Bertha is a woman who crawls around on all fours and makes animal noises along with trying to kill her husband by setting fire to his home. While these actions are obviously signs of madness, Bertha may not be as crazy as she seems, especially considering her past and all she has been through.
Bertha is described from a very insensitive and belittling point of view. Jane, and practically everyone feel no sympathy or show no kindness to her. This could be part of the reason for Bertha’s madness or, the reason for Bertha’s madness could be traced back to when she married Rochester without really getting to know him or fall in love with him. Rochester also claims that her family was mad, so it was inevitable for her to inherit it too. It is hard to fully believe all of the negative descriptions of her without hearing her side of the story, especially since they are so insensitive and biased.
The fact that Rochester locked her in an attic also contributes to Bertha’s insanity. With such constraint and denial of contact with the outside world, Bertha may have just been so thirsty for attention, she would do whatever she had to get it, whether it meant making animal noises or setting her husband’s house on fire. Her being locked in the attic could represent Bronte’s feelings about women’s treatment and standards set by society at the time (Bronte felt as if women were constrained or “locked up” and were not given the opportunities they deserved. In turn, they would go crazy. Also, the fact that Bertha is capable of such destruction symbolizes how women are capable of whatever they set their minds to)
Bertha may not be mad, her actions may just be a response to her situation. It cannot be argued that someone who crawls around on all fours and makes animal noises, along with attempting murder by arson is not insane. However, her madness, as a response to her situation can be dubbed reasonable. She is rejected by the man who is supposed to love her, kept prisoner in her own house, and the only way she can show her feelings or get any attention is through her crazy actions.
Bertha’s madness contributes to the work as a whole by providing a similar character to Jane Eyre, even though they seem very different. Both get locked up (Bertha in the attic and Jane in the red room). Both are used by Rochester. Jane is just a luckier version of Bertha. Both personify Bronte’s feelings about women’s’ treatment at the time. Since the characters are so similar, it shows that either Jane was secretly crazy the whole time, or Bertha is not as mad as she seems. Bertha’s madness is a question of perspective and while her actions seem mad, they are reasonable responses to her situation.
Much madness is divinest Sense-‐
To a discerning Eye-‐
Novelists and playwrights have often seen madness with a "discerning Eye." Select a novel or play in which a character's apparent madness or irrational behavior plays an important role. Then write a well-‐organized essay in which you explain what this delusion or eccentric behavior consists of and how it might be judged reasonable. Explain the significance of the "madness" to the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.
Emily Dickinson wrote, “Much madness is divinest sense- to the discerning eye.” This means that while a character or action may seem mad or crazy, their sanity is a question of perspective. The most evident example of seemingly madness found in Jane Eyre is Bertha Mason, Rochester’s wife. Bertha is a woman who crawls around on all fours and makes animal noises along with trying to kill her husband by setting fire to his home. While these actions are obviously signs of madness, Bertha may not be as crazy as she seems, especially considering her past and all she has been through.
Bertha is described from a very insensitive and belittling point of view. Jane, and practically everyone feel no sympathy or show no kindness to her. This could be part of the reason for Bertha’s madness or, the reason for Bertha’s madness could be traced back to when she married Rochester without really getting to know him or fall in love with him. Rochester also claims that her family was mad, so it was inevitable for her to inherit it too. It is hard to fully believe all of the negative descriptions of her without hearing her side of the story, especially since they are so insensitive and biased.
The fact that Rochester locked her in an attic also contributes to Bertha’s insanity. With such constraint and denial of contact with the outside world, Bertha may have just been so thirsty for attention, she would do whatever she had to get it, whether it meant making animal noises or setting her husband’s house on fire. Her being locked in the attic could represent Bronte’s feelings about women’s treatment and standards set by society at the time (Bronte felt as if women were constrained or “locked up” and were not given the opportunities they deserved. In turn, they would go crazy. Also, the fact that Bertha is capable of such destruction symbolizes how women are capable of whatever they set their minds to)
Bertha may not be mad, her actions may just be a response to her situation. It cannot be argued that someone who crawls around on all fours and makes animal noises, along with attempting murder by arson is not insane. However, her madness, as a response to her situation can be dubbed reasonable. She is rejected by the man who is supposed to love her, kept prisoner in her own house, and the only way she can show her feelings or get any attention is through her crazy actions.
Bertha’s madness contributes to the work as a whole by providing a similar character to Jane Eyre, even though they seem very different. Both get locked up (Bertha in the attic and Jane in the red room). Both are used by Rochester. Jane is just a luckier version of Bertha. Both personify Bronte’s feelings about women’s’ treatment at the time. Since the characters are so similar, it shows that either Jane was secretly crazy the whole time, or Bertha is not as mad as she seems. Bertha’s madness is a question of perspective and while her actions seem mad, they are reasonable responses to her situation.
And They Lived Happily Ever After
“Diana announced that she would just give me time to get over the honey-moon, and then she would come and see me.
'She had better not wait till then, Jane,' said Mr. Rochester, when I read her letter to him; 'if she does, she will be too late, for our honey-moon will shine our life-long: its beams will only fade over your grave or mine.”
I like this quote at the end of the novel because even though she had a tough life, it ended happily for Jane Eyre. Jane Eyre is both a Gothic and Romantic novel, and after all the ghosts and deaths and crazy people and cousins and sadness, which are the gothic aspects, we finally see the romantic aspect in the love and marriage and destiny to be together and inevitable fate and love and happiness at the end. Jane Eyre (Rochester?) and nameless Rochester marry and live happily ever after.
'She had better not wait till then, Jane,' said Mr. Rochester, when I read her letter to him; 'if she does, she will be too late, for our honey-moon will shine our life-long: its beams will only fade over your grave or mine.”
I like this quote at the end of the novel because even though she had a tough life, it ended happily for Jane Eyre. Jane Eyre is both a Gothic and Romantic novel, and after all the ghosts and deaths and crazy people and cousins and sadness, which are the gothic aspects, we finally see the romantic aspect in the love and marriage and destiny to be together and inevitable fate and love and happiness at the end. Jane Eyre (Rochester?) and nameless Rochester marry and live happily ever after.
And This Post Proves I Procrastinated
“It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquillity: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it. Millions are condemned to a stiller doom than mine, and millions are in silent revolt against their lot. Nobody knows how many rebellions besides political rebellions ferment in the masses of life which people earth. Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts, as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, to absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex.”
This passage by Charlotte Bronte reminds me of a certain mid-term essay topic, also a passage by Charlotte Bronte, regarding women's rights and society's expectations of women during the time she was writing.
In this context, Jane is reflecting on her life as a tutor/nanny and describing how she wishes she could express her feelings like men can. She complains about the restraints put on women and society's view of how women are supposed to behave. She deems men to be narrow minded and talks about the unfairness women face.
This passage is autobiographical of Bronte, because it was an issue she felt strongly about in real life. One instance where her opinion of women's equality to men was shown was in a letter in response to Robert Southey. Southey had written a letter as an evaluation of Bronte's poetry, but also criticized her, as a woman, for indulging in her writing and neglecting her duties as a woman. She responds to his letter and says how she wishes she could be seen as something more than just a housewife and that her writing would be respected.
I really like this passage, and while women technically have the same rights as men today, the mindset of them being inferior is still sometimes seen and engrained in peoples minds.
Helen Burns wont go to Hell n' Burn
"But where are you going to go Helen? Can you see? Do you know?"
"I believe; I have faith: I am going to God"
".. but now a gray marble tablet marks the spot, inscribed with her name, and the word "Resurgam.""
I think that throughout her time as a character in the novel, Helen has functioned as a Christ figure.
When she is first introduced, she is associated with light and Christ is known as the "light of the world." She is the light of Jane's world.
She constantly quotes the Bible and reminds Jane of what Jesus would do and how Christians are supposed to act.
When teachers are mean to her and pick on her, she respects them and says she appreciates their criticism, just as Christ said to "love your enemies." Helen even quotes this verse.
Jane and Helen talk about how Charles I, who they learn about in school, was killed by his enemies, even though he did no wrong to them, just like Christ was killed by the Romans when he did nothing wrong to them
Helen can also be seen as a Christ figure because she is a type of sacrifice. Her death is due to the poor conditions at Lowood which lead to her contracting typhus and dying. After her death, the school was investigated and put under new leadership. So, her death led to a better life for others.
The fact that her grave is marked with the word "Resurgam" also provides support for Helen being a Christ figure. "Resurgam," in Latin means "I shall rise again." And Jesus died and rose again.
"I believe; I have faith: I am going to God"
".. but now a gray marble tablet marks the spot, inscribed with her name, and the word "Resurgam.""
I think that throughout her time as a character in the novel, Helen has functioned as a Christ figure.
When she is first introduced, she is associated with light and Christ is known as the "light of the world." She is the light of Jane's world.
She constantly quotes the Bible and reminds Jane of what Jesus would do and how Christians are supposed to act.
When teachers are mean to her and pick on her, she respects them and says she appreciates their criticism, just as Christ said to "love your enemies." Helen even quotes this verse.
Jane and Helen talk about how Charles I, who they learn about in school, was killed by his enemies, even though he did no wrong to them, just like Christ was killed by the Romans when he did nothing wrong to them
Helen can also be seen as a Christ figure because she is a type of sacrifice. Her death is due to the poor conditions at Lowood which lead to her contracting typhus and dying. After her death, the school was investigated and put under new leadership. So, her death led to a better life for others.
The fact that her grave is marked with the word "Resurgam" also provides support for Helen being a Christ figure. "Resurgam," in Latin means "I shall rise again." And Jesus died and rose again.
"The Light" creates a fore"shadow"
"Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven."-St Matt. v 16
I read these words over and over again. I felt that an explanation belonged to them, and was unable fully to penetrate their import. I was still pondering the significance of "Institution," and endeavoring to make out a connexion between the first words and verse of Scripture, when the sound of a cough close behind me made me turn my head. I saw a girl sitting on a stone bench near...
I think that while Lowood is a dark and desolate place, Helen functions as a source of light for Jane in the darkness. I think that the Bible verse, which mentions light, is used to foreshadow this light in Jane's life and describes how Helen's "good works" make Jane feel happier and more willing or able to "glorify" aspects of her life. At first Jane was "unable fully to penetrate their import," but shortly after, she meets Helen and forms a bond with her.
Jane Red Red Whining in the Red Red Room
"The red-room was a spare chamber, very seldom slept in.."
"This room was chill, because it seldom had a fire; it was silent because remote from the nursery and kitchens; solemn because it was known to be so seldom entered...."
"Mr Reed had been dead nine years: it was in this chamber he breathed his last...."
"My heart beat thick, my head grew hot; a sound filled my ears, which I deemed the rushing of wings; something seemed near me, I was oppressed, suffocated; endurance broke down; I rushed to the door and shook the lock in desperate effort.."
I think the red-room is a symbol for several things.
First, I think it symbolizes or brings about insanity in Jane. It is proven that red makes people more frantic or on edge and being locked in a room that is almost entirely red for a long period of time could make someone go crazy or hallucinate, especially someone who is already distraught.
Second, I think the room symbolizes Hell. Jane has had a pretty bad life, being orphaned at such a young age and having to live with a neglecting aunt. Being locked in a room that is entirely red, a color associated with Hell, is a very severe punishment. In this situation, her aunt could symbolize God, who condemns her to this punishment.
Third, I think the room could symbolize a coffin. Coffins are often lined with a red cloth on the inside. Since her uncle died in this room, it can be associated with death. Jane's hallucinations of ghosts could be because the room is thought to contain spirits of the dead (her uncle) like a coffin would. Aside from functioning as a coffin for her dead uncle, it could also represent a coffin for Jane. She could be seen as being "dead" because she has no outlet to express her emotions and has basically no life and no reason to live.
Jane Eyre
- Written in 1840
- Published in 1847
- Written in Victorian era
- Set in England in early 19th century
- Both a Gothic and a romantic novel
Charlotte Bronte
- Charlotte Bronte was born in Thornton, Yorkshire, England on April 21, 1816.
- Bronte was the third of six children.
- Two of her younger sisters, Anne and Emily, were also famous writers.
- Her mother died when she was 5 and two of her older sisters died before she turned 10.
- She was the only one of her siblings to live past 31
- Her three most famous works are Shirley, Jane Eyre, and Villette
- Works were published under pen name Currer Bell
- Married in 1854, shortly before her death on March 31, 1855
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